Birthers

While some folks are not happy that Obama was elected President, there are people who claim that he should not be in office because he is not really a natural born American citizen (which is a requirement for being eligible for the office). These folks are often referred to as “birthers“, which sounds a bit like some sort of horror movie/game monster. Despite the rather unfortunate name, these folks have launched a serious enough campaign that Obama and his people have taken the effort to respond to these allegation.

The facts in the case seem rather clear: Obama’s mother was an American citizen and he was born in Hawaii. As such, he is a natural born American citizen. Not surprisingly, most conservatives accept that Obama is legally the President, although they would prefer that he was not in office.

Naturally, I wonder a bit about the birtherphenomenon. On one hand, it is tempting to simply dismiss them as yet another wacko group. On the other hand, they do present an interesting subject for study and speculation. After all, the birthers seem to seriously believe a claim that all availabe evidence shows to be false.

Of course, it might be the case that some of the birthers do not believe their own claim. Perhaps they are merely using it as a political tool to annoy the Obama administration and to motivate some of the more fringe elements of the base. While the birthers do not pose a serious challenge to Obama, his administration has had to waste time in dealing with this challenge. Also, even people who do not believe this claim can me made to feel more suspicious of him through this sort of tactic.

As far as those who actually believe it, this might be do to the fact that belief tends to be based on how a person feels as opposed to being based on rational evidence. Those who feel negatively towards Obama would tend to suspend their reason and accept negative claims against him, even when the evidence does not warrant doing so. Of course, some people might believe that there is a legitimate basis for their belief. They could be, after all, skeptics. Since there are always grounds for doubting empircial claims (just use the skeptical argument of your choice, ranging from the anicent Greek skeptics to Descartes and beyond), a birther can always call any evidence into doubt. Of course, they do not seem to be consistent in their skepticism since they do not seem to be skeptics across the board.

I just don’t understand why it took so long for any proof to arise. This has actually been an issure for quite some time for Obama. There was even some people selling a birth certificate on ebay stating thatit was from the African hospital that Obama was born in.

Seeing that I have to provide a birth certificate to get many jobs, I don’t understand why Obama did not quell the rumors long ago–it is afterall a legitimate question since it is a requirement of his job to be a natural born citizen.

Some animals are more equal than others and do not have to rise to the same standards. Where is the transparency on his college transcripts while we are at it. It is not a birth certificate either. those have a doctor and hospital. I don’t really give a crap in the end. We elected him so we deserve him but I still think it all smells a bit fishy.

On this subject, I’ll make a $10 wager based on the following:
1/No one will be able to disprove the information provided by the state of Hawaii and the birth announcements in the paper.
2/No one will ever, ever, ever be able to convince birthers they’re just run-of-the-mill conspiracy theorists.
3/The theory will be visited and revisited on a weekly, monthly and/or yearly basis by the media (particularly the right-wing media)until the end of time.
4/Unless something sensible is offered up by birthers on the subject, I’ve got no more to say about it.

I would say that it doesn’t matter what one believes, but it still should matter what the truth is. Commenter biomass2 is hardly worth responding to, given his or her offensive comment above, but for the benefit of others, I am glad to answer the points raised.

FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, which is not necessarily a disinterested party. As I’m sure you well know, Barack Obama worked for the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (together with Bill Ayers) in the mid to late 1990s. For details, read the pre-election research of Stanley Kurtz published by National Review Online. My view is that it’s not unreasonable to question the independence of FactCheck.org, since they “have a dog in the race” and in conjunctin, are the most virulently anti-birther, if you will, of all the fact-checkers on the web.

On Nov. 1st, 2008, Hawaii’s health department director verified only that her department does hold Obama’s original birth certificate. She did not, however, reveal what the certificate says. Release of the certificate can only be allowed by Barack Obama, and he has chosen not to release it. Maybe it’s the $10 fee, I don’t know. What has been seen by the public is a Certification (note the different spelling) of Live Birth. That is not a birth certificate. The Hawaii Department of Health has refused to authenticate either the image produced by the Obama campaign or the ones released by FactCheck.org — which are actually different from the former.

As for the birth announcement, I don’t know who had it published in the newspaper, but it doesn’t seem to have been a hospital. No Hawaiian hospital has yet bragged that an American president was born there. It seems to me they would have if they could. That is why I asked my original question of the philosopher blogger.

Lastly, I think it’s relevant to note that when John McCain’s eligibility to run for president was questioned based on the constitutional issue of whether he was indeed a “natural born” citizen as required, there were extensive hearings held on the matter in the Senate and tens of thousands of pages of documentation were publicly scrutinized. It was all covered in the media; see especially the New York Times.

Maybe Obama really was born in Hawaii, but it strikes many citizens as odd that he refuses to release his birth certificate. You have one, I have one, apparently he has one, but he has gone to great lengths and ostensibly paid enormous sums to attorneys who have fought on his behalf (and that of the DNC) to prevent its release. Nor has he allowed the release of his grade school records, his Occidental College records, Columbia, Harvard Law school, passport, medical records, Illinois bar association, state senate files, baptism, adoption and legal name change records (from Soetoro back to Obama).

Maybe none of this bothers you, but it does bother some people. What bothers me is that people are being so demonized and villified for their curiosity, for nothing more than asking questions. It reeks of fascism to me that we are told we must believe… on faith… without proof. I don’t think that’s healthy for the future of the republic.

See also Andrew McCarthy, who writes that the controversy is more about Obama’s honesty than where he was born (“Suborned in the U.S.A.” at National Review July 30, 2009). Either way, the whole matter could easily be put to rest if the president so desired.

I’m no expert on the legal system of Hawaii, but I suspect that a Certification of Live Birth is legally equivalent to a birth certificate. Perhaps a lawyer can straighten this matter out…any takers?

I’m fine with people being curious about Obama’s past, but I do not see any meaningful evidence that there is some sort of conspiracy or deception here (other than what is business as usual in politics).

Now, if someone can produce solid evidence that Obama is not eligible to be President or that his records would reveal dire and terrible secrets that would justify legal action against him, I would be very interested in seeing that evidence. At this point, it mainly seems that some folks are creating a lot of noise about nothing. Perhaps it is because they do not like Obama. Perhaps it is because they are sincere in their concerns and fear America is being duped by a pretender. Perhaps they are being manipulated as pawns in a larger political game. Sure, they have a right to express their views. But, they have no right to expect people to believe their claims unless they can present adequate evidence against what has already been established to the satisfaction of the legal system. After all, the burden of proof rests on them.

“I’m no expert on the legal system of Hawaii, but I suspect that a Certification of Live Birth is legally equivalent to a birth certificate. Perhaps a lawyer can straighten this matter out…any takers?”

Why not just show the damn certificate? I do not get it. If i was required to show a ‘Birth Certificate’ I am pretty sure a certification of live birth would hardly do.

“Lastly, I think it’s relevant to note that when John McCain’s eligibility to run for president was questioned based on the constitutional issue of whether he was indeed a “natural born” citizen as required, there were extensive hearings held on the matter in the Senate and tens of thousands of pages of documentation were publicly scrutinized. It was all covered in the media; see especially the New York Times.”

This is true and I’ve heard this before.

Dr. L, I’m wondering on what basis you’re stating that you state: “Obama’s mother was an American citizen and he was born in Hawaii.”

I have no real opinion on the matter other than to say it does seem as if Obama has een elusive about the matter.

Actually Mike, that’s what confuses me; hasn’t this been a question since before Obama was elected? Why is it a main story now?

I know. It’s to distract from the multi-trillion dollar failings that are piling up around this administration’s ears.

And kernunos is right. For all of the things that the Left attacked Bush with for 8 agonizing years, they’ve set thmselves up for some huge falls when it all comes out about Obama and when he ends up being a one-termer–which he’s well on his way to doing.

Perhaps a slow news day got it rolling. One possibility is that it is a clever harrassment tactic-Obama’s folks have to waste time dealing with it and it also helps feed some folks fears about Obama.

As you point out, there are substantive issues about the Obama administration that can be debated. I think the country would be better served by focusing on the important issues rather than worrying about whether Obama is an American or not.

“Thomas refused to intervene, so Taitz refiled the request to fellow conservative Samuel Alito. He referred the matter to the entire court, which also rejected the appeal.”
Watch out for Samuel Alito. Maybe some can refresh my memory. Wasn’t Samuel recently instrumental in bringing another case before the court that couldn’t get in by way of any other justice? Pattern?

“Thomas refused to intervene, so Taitz refiled the request to fellow conservative Samuel Alito. He referred the matter to the entire court, which also rejected the appeal.”
Watch out for Samuel Alito. Maybe some can refresh my memory. Wasn’t Samuel recently instrumental in bringing another case before the court that couldn’t get in by way of any other justice? Pattern?

But for those of you who sympathize with Orly’s crusade, I’ve got a feeling she’ll be back. She’s the freakin’ Energizer Dummy.